CECF ORDOS DRAWS TOGETHER LEADING LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL SPONSORS, JOCKEYS & INDUSTRY LEADERS

CECF ORDOS DRAWS TOGETHER LEADING LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL SPONSORS, JOCKEYS & INDUSTRY LEADERS

Leading jockeys from Australia, Barbados, Great Britain and Russia are set to descend on Ordos, Inner Mongolia this weekend to challenge some of China’s leading young riders at the flagship 2016 CECF Ordos. They will join industry leaders and sponsors from across China and the world for what is being described as the “most significant” China Equine Cultural Event ever held.

The RMB1,000,000 Yitai Cup (2000m) will be the feature event run this Sunday at the Ordos Yiqi Racecourse with a support card headed by the RMB500,000 Australian Turf Club Cup (1000m), RMB500,000 CECF Caribbean Cup (1200m) and the RMB500,000 International Breeders’ Cup (1000m).

“The support from the Organizing Committee of the Ordos Nadam, from Ordos City and Yiqi Governments, from partners and sponsors across China and from the international community has been exceptional and has ensured this weekend’s CECF Ordos will be the most significant we have ever held,” said Teo Ah Khing, Chairman of the CECF Ordos Organizing Committee.

“Our local partners are headed by the Yitai Group, who have the naming rights to our feature race, and we enjoy the support of the Australian Turf Club, Desert Star Holdings and the International Breeders’ Incorporated as well as the world’s leading auction houses, studs, domestic and international media, banks and a variety of other industries.”

The diversified jockey ranks at the CECF Ordos is a further indication of the China Equine Cultural Festival’s role as a platform for creating and establishing relationships between industries. As China’s thoroughbred industry continues to build ties to both developing and established regions, the invitation of international jockeys from Australia, Barbados, Great Britain and Russia is a further indication of the strengthening relations with these nations.

One of the stars of the CECF Ordos may well be Myrzabek Kappushev who is a dominant force among Russia’s riding ranks. Kappushev has accumulated a weighty list of feature race wins in both Russia and the United States and was singled out as an ambassador to represent Russia’s racing industry.

In a storied career Kappushev has already won the President of the Russian Federation Stakes, National Heritage Stakes, Russian Minister of Agriculture Stakes, Russian Oaks, Super Derby, South of Russia Derby, Hero City of Moscow Stakes, Central Moscow Hippodrome Stakes, Elite Stakes, Grand Criterium Stakes, President of Tatarstan Stakes, Rostov Derby and the Pyatigorsk Oaks. Kappushev has also won the Smooth Air Stakes at Calder Racecourse in the United States. He will bid to add to this imposing tally in China.

“It's a big honour to represent Russia at such an important event. I'll do my best to try to win this competition for Russia and entertain the public at Ordos Yiqi Racecourse,” Kappushev said.

“I've never been in China before and it's a great chance to get acquainted with Chinese way of life, culture and horse racing. It's an important experience and possibly a promising prospect for me as a jockey.”

Five time G1 winning rider Michael Cahill returns to China having represented Australia at the inaugural CECF in Hohhot. On that occasion Cahill tussled with the likes of Joao Moreira, Gavin Lerena and Kevin Shea.

“I am delighted to be once again representing Australia at this prestigious event of the CECF in Ordos,” Cahill said last night.

“After my extremely positive experience at the inaugural CEFC in 2013, where I received the warmest of hospitality, it is indeed an honour to be invited to this year’s event.I’m really looking forward to returning to China to compete in the CECF Ordos and to see how much has changed since I was last there.”

But the international jockeys are certain to face stiff opposition from Chinese riders headed by Qin Yong, Lu Sanping and Wang Yujie among others. Qin Yong, China’s history making jockey, has returned from Barbados to head the ‘home defence’ and is eagerly looking to return to the circuit where he enjoyed so much success during the 2015 National Traditional Games for Ethnic Minorities.

“The participation of international jockeys brings high standards and exciting racing to China. I welcome them to the CECF Ordos and look forward to riding against them and my peers from China. The Chinese jockeys will be wishing the international jockeys all the best but, at the same time, we will be trying to show what we are capable of and will be giving our best at this big event” said Qin Yong.

One of the international jockeys Qin Yong has already competed against is the talented Barbadian Reshawn Latchman. The 25-year-old was Barbados’ champion jockey in 2012, has ridden with distinction in the United States and Canada and currently sits atop his nation’s riding ranks this season. Latchman’s participation at the CECF Ordos comes less than a year after an agreement was reached between the Barbados Turf Club and the China Horse Club to promote new opportunities for Chinese jockeys in Barbados. That agreement opened the door to Qin Yong’s historic win at the Sandy Lane Gold Cup meeting in March.

“I’m really excited to represent my country in such an international meetI’ve never travelled so far before to ride, and I’m looking forward to competing with the other international riders and to showing what Barbados has to offer.” Latchman said

The CECF Ordos Race Day will be livestreamed or broadcast on the following locations this Sunday 21st August. Please check the below websites for times in your region:

“I'm very excited and proud to represent Australia in China, we have a lot of quality jockeys riding here and I look forward to showcasing my talents with the other foreign jockeys. I'm very much looking forward to experiencing the cultural differences China has to offer. It will be my first trip to China and I'm well aware of the amazing history of this great country.”

Daniel Muscutt (Great Britain):

“It is a great honour for me to be invited to China to represent Britain in the upcoming CECF Ordos. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and I am really looking forward to experiencing racing in China. I have followed the progress of CHC with keen interest over the past year and to have the chance to ride there is very exciting and special for me. Having ridden in the UK, Australia, South Africa, the Middle East and Europe previously, to have the chance of riding in China is an opportunity not to be missed. With the support of some of the major players in international racing at the meeting I am positive it will be a great experience for me.”

Myrzabek Kappushev (Russia):

“It's a big honour to represent Russia at such an important event. I'll do my best to try to win this competition for Russia and entertain the public at Ordos Yiqi Racecourse. I've never been in China before and it's a great chance to get acquainted with Chinese way of life, culture and horse racing. It's an important experience and possibly a promising prospect for me as a jockey.”

Michael Cahill (Australia):

“I am delighted to be once again representing Australia at this prestigious event of the CECF in Ordos. After my extremely positive experience at the inaugural CEFC in 2013, where I received the warmest of hospitality, it is indeed an honour to be invited to this year’s event. I’m really looking forward to returning to China to compete in the CECF Ordos and to see how much has changed since I was last there.”

Reshawn Latchman (Barbados):

“I’m really excited to represent my country in such an international meet. I’ve never travelled so far before to ride, and I’m looking forward to competing with the other international riders and to showing what Barbados has to offer.”

Qin Yong (China):

“The participation of international jockeys brings high standards and exciting racing to China. I welcome them to the CECF Ordos and look forward to riding against them and my peers from China. The Chinese jockeys will be wishing the international jockeys all the best but, at the same time, we will be trying to show what we are capable of and will be giving our best at this big event.”